Barcelona faced a significant setback during their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg triumph over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, as Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde both sustained hamstring injuries at Spotify Camp Nou. The duo is expected to be sidelined for at least a month, posing a significant challenge for the Catalan side during a critical phase of the season.
Head coach Hansi Flick is now tasked with finding alternatives to fill the gap left by his starting full-backs. While Joao Cancelo can be utilized on either side, it is likely that Eric Garcia (right-back) and Gerard Martin (left-back) will step in, despite their primary roles being in central defense this season.
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In addition, Flick is turning to La Masia to bolster his squad. According to MD, left-back Patricio Pacifico participated in Wednesday’s training session and may have the opportunity to join the matchday squad for this weekend’s encounter with Athletic Club.
Pacifico Advances Amid Injuries in La Masia
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Pacifico joined Barcelona during the winter transfer window from Defensor Sporting. The 19-year-old has been competing with Barca Atletic since his move from Uruguay, and now he has an opportunity to shine under Flick, especially with Jofre Torrents out for the season due to an ankle injury.
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It will be intriguing to see how Barcelona sets up at San Mames on Saturday. They have a crucial Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Newcastle United just three days later; however, Flick is unable to afford any defensive rotation due to the current injury crisis. Pacifico is likely to be a substitute, and it would be a gamble to deploy him unless absolutely necessary.